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Reuse, Refurbish and Recycle: How to Go Eco-Friendly With Your Home Design

Written by Posted On Sunday, 28 June 2015 17:24

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Reuse, Refurbish and Recycle: How to Go Eco-Friendly With Your Home Design

Furnishing, decorating or redecorating a home can be expensive, tedious and sometimes a bit frustrating. We must try to keep up with the latest, ever-changing fashion trends while also attempting to carefully balance expenses with the social responsibility of not creating additional landfill waste. We live in a crowded world where the unnecessary dumping of bulky furniture items or interior finishes that are still in good shape shouldn't be tolerated.

If you want to know how much your house will sell for in South Florida, Broward County go to Home Value or call Irene Medina.Realtor at 954-439-4851.

Try to keep sustainability in mind as you decorate your home. Seek out items containing recycled content or made from eco-friendly materials. Donate or sell items that could be salvaged whenever possible, as they should be given the opportunity for a second life in another home.

Here are a few simple design ideas with a sustainable approach, to help give a fresh look to your home while remaining eco-friendly.

Focus on the Finishesbbb

If you're starting bare bones with your home décor, you can select interior finishes that contain recycled content or that are made from rapidly renewable resources. There are many flooring options available today that provide style and are also quite cost effective—bamboo, cork or linoleum, to name a few. For carpeting, look at selections bearing recycled materials, or that contain wool or even corn fibers, for a sustainable choice.

For bathroom or kitchen countertops, consider ceramic tiles or beautiful glass made entirely from recycled content. More exclusively for kitchens, look for counters made from concrete, stainless steel, recycled paper or even reclaimed wood. Consider cabinetry materials that are sourced from sustainably harvested forests, such as from the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), and steer clear of products containing added urea-formaldehyde to offer a healthier interior environment.

If you're redecorating your existing home, try and salvage what you've already got! Refinish those beautiful hardwood floors that can last another lifetime, instead of replacing them. Refurbish existing cabinetry or interior doors by adding a fresh stain, a coat of paint, or updated hardware.

ccc"New" Furniture Doesn't Have to Be New

Shop at thrift stores, antique shops, flea markets or second-hand online retailers for one-of-a-kind treasures and give them a fresh look. Consider stand-out pieces such as oversized wooden or metal headboards, table and chair ensembles, distinctive dressers, buffets or armoires—then refurbish them to compliment your existing décor. Vintage pieces establish an effortlessly unique appeal and help divert unnecessary waste from already overflowing landfills.

Another eco-friendly and cost-effective option is to refinish the furniture you've already got at home. Some sanding, new hardware, and a fresh stain or paint color added to a single piece of furniture—or a complete ensemble—will give a room an entirely new look. Consider a distressed look or even add stenciling or texture. Encourage a family project and the whole gang will take pride in the finished product!

Use some imagination and creativity to give new meaning to existing pieces or eclectic, previously-owned treasures. Antique dressers make gorgeous bathroom vanities; and with a reclaimed wood top, you can make exceptional kitchen island creations. Search out vintage lockers for storing mudroom essentials and display houseplants on rustic hutches or armoires left lazily ajar.

If you absolutely must have something new, seek out furniture derived from eco-friendly products and those made from recycled plastics or metals. Consider ethically sourced wood or accent pieces made from rapidly renewable materials such as bamboo.

Addressing the Finer Detailsddd

Don't forget to also think sustainably when fine-tuning your home décor. Seek out throw rugs or blankets derived from natural or recycled fibers. Do the same for your fabrics and textiles, and consider green options such as organic cotton or linen, hemp or jute.

Most importantly, instead of buying new, search again for unique, second-hand treasures. Make a bold statement by adding one-of-a-kind light fixtures to any room. Refurbish vintage mirrors or antique picture frames. Utilize abandoned window panes for your photo collections.  Consider rustic galvanized tubs, wicker baskets or ornamental canning jars for your storage needs and add a touch of classic elegance with a single glass vase or antique table lamp.

As consumers, it is our social and moral responsibility to think about how our individual actions affect the world we live in. We can help not only to divert unnecessary waste from already overcrowded landfills; we can have a lot of fun doing it.

Irene Medina, Realtor and The Medina Real Estate Group have vast experience in marketing of properties extensively worldwide via the internet. They sell their listings in record time and for top dollar. They have received many recommendations from their extremely satisfied customers. IreneMedina.Realtor has been a Floridian for the past 22 years and has been a Broward County resident for 21 years. Realtor Irene and The Medina Real Estate Group service, Plantation, Fort Lauderdale, Coral Springs, Parkland, Davie, Weston, Tamarac, Broward County and South Palm Beach. She has been a Silver medal winner with Keller Williams for the past 3 years. She is a Certified Residential Specialist, CRS, Certified Distressed Property Expert, CDPE, she is also a Graduate of the Realtor Institute, GRI. She also holds the following designations, SFR, CHS, TRC and is working on her Commercial RE accreditation.

Realtor Irene and The Medina Real Estate Group will “Stand by YOU Every Step of the Way!” from start to finish.

For Your FREE Home Value go to: Home Value

Need to Sell your home go to: Steps to Selling Your Home

If you need to Short Sale your home, please go to www.FlShortSaleServices.com.

If you are a buyer looking to buy a home go to www.TheMedinaRealEstateGroup.com.

Client Testimonials

Irene Medina / Realtor
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 954-439-4851

The Medina Real Estate Group
www.TheMedinaRealEstateGroup.com

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SOUTH FLORIDA REAL ESTATE AGENT GIVES BACK BY JOINING SOCIAL GOOD MOVEMENT

 

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Irene Medina, PA

Standing by YOU Every Step of the Way!"

My core values are to educate others, have fun every day, respect the environment, and treat customers like family.

My passion for EDUCATION and SUSTAINABLE LIVING are what make me stand out from the rest. I am a mentor and coach to other Realtors, a trusted real estate advisor to my customers, and I hold the National Association of Realtors Green Designation which qualifies me to educate and advise others on sustainable living issues. My relationships with green vendors and my expert knowledge on sustainable living issues enable me to help my customers achieve their green goals.

I have fifteen years of experience working as a Realtor in South Florida. I have guided my customers through rising and falling markets and I have sold all sorts of homes, from large estate homes to beachfront condominiums.

I am the founder and leader of The Medina Real Estate Group, a team of real estate agents who value honesty and transparency and have a passion for education and sustainable living. My team's primary goal is to exceed customer expectations every time by putting customers first, listening to their needs, and keeping them well-informed from contract to closing.

My team works hard, but we also have fun and we want our customers and the Realtors we mentor to have fun as well. We implement superior negotiation skills and leverage technology to guarantee that our customers will buy or sell their home quickly and for the best possible price. We are by our customers' side every step of the way, from contract to closing, and we treat our customers like family to make their transactions easy and stress-free.

Our passion for education and for the environment ensure that our customers are well-informed and receive the expert advice needed to help them achieve their sustainable living goals.

Remember that I am committed to "Standing by YOU Every Step of the Way!”

WWW.TheMedinaGroup.com

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